The concluding phase of the highly anticipated Lok Sabha election 2024 is set to unfold today, marking the seventh phase of voting across 57 constituencies in eight states and Union territories. Concurrently, 42 Odisha Assembly constituencies will also go to polls.
Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, and Punjab are among the regions where voters will cast their ballots. Here are the top 10 things to know about this decisive phase:
1.Voter Turnout: According to the Election Commission, approximately 10.06 crore voters across 1.09 lakh polling stations will participate. The Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is optimistic about surpassing the 400-seat mark in the 543-member Lok Sabha.
2. Prime Minister Modi’s Constituency: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking a third consecutive term, is contesting from Varanasi. He previously defeated Aam Aadmi Party’s Arvind Kejriwal in 2014 and Samajwadi Party’s Shalini Yadav in 2019. This time, Modi faces UP Congress chief Ajay Rai, who also challenged him in the past two elections.
3. Key Constituencies in Uttar Pradesh: Thirteen constituencies in Uttar Pradesh will vote. Notable candidates include Union ministers Anupriya Patel (Mirzapur), Pankaj Chaudhary (Maharajganj), and Ravi Kishan (Gorakhpur).
4. Prominent Candidates in Bihar: Eight constituencies in Bihar will see key figures such as Lalu Prasad’s daughter Misa Bharti (Pataliputra), former Union minister Ravishankar Prasad (Patna Sahib), and Bhojpuri actor Pawan Singh (Karakat).
5. Punjab Elections: All 13 constituencies in Punjab will vote. The INDIA bloc’s Congress and Aam Aadmi Party are contesting separately, along with Shiromani Akali Dal and BJP. Key candidates include Preneet Kaur (Patiala), former CM Charanjit Channi (Jalandhar), and Harsimrat Kaur Badal (Bathinda).
6. Himachal Pradesh Spotlight: Actor-politician Kangana Ranaut is contesting from Mandi for BJP against Congress leader Vikramaditya Singh. Union minister Anurag Thakur seeks a fifth term from Hamirpur, while senior Congress leader Anand Sharma contests from Kangra.
7. West Bengal’s Prominent Constituencies: Nine constituencies in West Bengal are voting, including Basirhat, where BJP’s Rekha Patra and Trinamool Congress’s Haji Nurul Islam are key candidates. TMC heavyweights such as Abhishek Banerjee (Diamond Harbour), Sougata Roy (Dum Dum), Sudip Bandopadhyay (Kolkata Uttar), and Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar (Barasat) are also in the fray.
8. Logistical Arrangements: The Election Commission has deployed 13 special trains and eight helicopter sorties in Himachal Pradesh to transport polling and security personnel.
9. Surveillance and Security: A total of 2,707 flying squads, 2,799 static surveillance teams, 1,080 surveillance teams, and 560 video viewing teams are actively monitoring to prevent voter inducement.
10. Exit Poll Restrictions: The Election Commission has mandated that no exit polls be published until at least half an hour after polling concludes in all states and Union territories.
As the final phase approaches, the nation awaits the outcome of this monumental electoral battle.
Comments